Now Reading
UN Report Says Great Barrier Reef is in Crisis

UN Report Says Great Barrier Reef is in Crisis

Heavy machinery moves coal at a mine near Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley, Australia, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC), warns that the Great Barrier Reef’s existence is in serious danger.

Monday was the sixth major report by the IPCC on the planet’s health. It said if Pacific Ocean temperatures continue to rise, bleaching will kill the remaining corals that make up Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Bleaching occurs when the ocean temperature is higher than normal. Corals become more colorful when they are exposed to warmer water. They often die quickly, often turning white and sickly.

According to the report, global warming will continue and bleaching events more often will occur.

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most important living structures on Earth. It measures more than 2,300 kilometers in length. It is home for thousands of species of fish and other wildlife. The reef is home to many other animals, including giant clams, whales and dolphins, as well as birds.

The reef is also a profit for humanity. It is very popular among visitors who bring a lot money to the area. Before the COVID-19 crises, the reef was quite popular. TourismThe Australian economy was worth $4.6 billion annually. It also supported more than 60,000 jobs.

The reef was the center of Tony Fontes’ 40 year career. The professional diver taught diving and led dive trips to this reef.

Fontes claimed that he had seen the reef after a bleaching incident. He described the water turning a pale yellow color due to the floating remains from dead corals. He compared the destruction with a forest fire.

“You just realize you’ve just swum across a reef that a couple weeks ago was full of life and VibrantAnd now?bushfire has gone through it and the coral is dead, he said, adding, “and the rest of the marine life will just have to move on or die off.”

Ava Shearer, who swam at the reef in 2012, also got a close-up view of bleaching. The sight made her weep.

Heavy machinery moves coal at a mine near Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley, Australia, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021.

A heavy machinery moves coal in a mine near Muswellbrook, Hunter Valley, Australia, Tuesday November 2, 2021

She said that the reef used to look like a bustling capital, but it was empty one day.

Shearer, now 17, studies sea life at James Cook University. She is worried about the reef’s future.

“I fear there might not be anything for me to study,” she said.

The Great Barrier Reef experienced its worst bleaching in history in 2016. Over 90% of the reef was severely damaged. According to the IPCC, the reef’s northern and middle sections were severely damaged by the bleachings that occurred. The report described the reef there to be in a “highly Degraded state.”

The IPCC’s report states that bleaching will continue along reefs. The report suggests that it may be too late for bleaching to stop completely. The IPCC found that bleaching events will continue even if the world meets an international goal of reducing temperature.

The IPCC claims that warming ocean water will cause coral deaths around the world. species.

Australia will have to work hard to reduce its negative impact on the environment. The nation’s economy depends on exports of coal and natural gas. It also uses coal to generate power.

Despite warnings about its economic importance and the state of the reef, the nation has not been quick to act on these issues. Climate action is a difficult subject in Australia, one of the world’s biggest exporters of coal and natural gas.

The Australian government recently announced it would donate $1 billion to the reef. Critics claimed that even this alone will not prevent ocean temperatures from rising.

The IPCC report noted that if the bleaching continues, Australia’s economy will lose almost $1 billion and 10,000 jobs per year from reduced tourism.

Scott Heron is a physics professor at James Cook and a specialist in reef science. He estimated that 1 billion people worldwide depend on healthy reefs to earn a living. He said that if the world doesn’t work to slow down climate change, there could be serious problems facing humanity.

“It’s going to affect real people and real people’s lives,” he said.

In this July 8, 2011 file photo, smoke bellows from a chimney stack at BlueScope Steel's mill at Port Kembla, south of Sydney, Australia.

In this July 8, 2011, file photograph, smoke is visible from the chimney stack of BlueScope Steel’s Port Kembla mill, south Sydney, Australia.

The report stated that climate change will not only affect the reef in Australia, but also other parts of the world. The IPCC predicts that wildfires that can cause death will increase in frequency and severity.

Mark Howden, IPCC panelist is director of the climate school in Australian National University. He said conditions that scientists predicted for the future are “appearing pretty much now.”

Howden stated that Australians should focusLook for the solutions to these problems and do not lose heart. He stated that the report contains ideas that could reduce the pressure on the reef and help Australia decrease its dependence on it. negative Impact on the environment

He stated that Australians should be concerned about the issues discussed in the report. But, he said the IPCC also wrote about ways to prevent “worst-case scenarios in the future.”

I’m Caty Weaver. And I’m Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted the following story for Learning English based upon a report by The Associated Press.

Do you think Australia can help the Reef with more than money? Leave a comment in the Comments Section Visit our Facebook page.

This Story: Words

Vibrant– n. bright, colorful and full of life

Bush fire– n. a fire in an undeveloped area that has not been used for farming

degrade – v. to break down

species– n. a group of animals or plants that are similar

Focus– n. a subject that is being discussed or given attention

negative– adj. Negative or harmful

stress – A negative effect that causes tension, worry, or anxiety

scenario – n. a description about what could happen

View Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.